It's his team now

Next, he's healthy. His wrist is now cleaned up and "feels real good" after off-season surgery to clean up the fraying and inflammation - issues he revealed that required two cortizone shots during the 2009 campaign. It was such a problem that when he returned home to Texas, basic day-to-day activities, like turning the wheel of a car, could not be performed without pain.
And, in addition to dialing back workouts so he'd have himself in prime condition, not for spring training but the beginning of April - in part, because of the procedure on the wrist and the time it took to strengthen it - there is another intangible that dramatically alters the makeup of the clubhouse going into what he calls the re-tooling era of the franchise.
"I feel like it's my team now," said Wells.
At the age of 31, and Roy Halladay now gone, it really is. At spring training this week, it was almost as if things weren't underway until Vernon's arrival, which came two days before the first official team workout.
DUNEDIN -- Vernon Wells emerged from the batting cage Wednesday following his first spring training workout and it became immediately apparent that plenty has changed. First: he now looks svelte, his stomach and frame have shrunk since last October when players went their separate ways after the season ended in Baltimore.
"Everybody plays through different things, but it was frustrating from an outsider point of view and myself because I want to be better than what I was," he admitted.
In addition to his body giving up on him with nagging injuries, Cito Gaston spotted areas that led to Wells' struggles. The Blue Jays manager noticed that the one-time silver slugger was off-balance at the plate and that his feet were shuffling. "He went to the plate and didn't have an idea of what he wanted to do," Gaston said.
At a mini-camp here in Florida a few weeks back, Gaston and hitting coach Dwayne Murphy spent time examining Wells' stroke with their franchise player. They noticed issues in his mechanics and realized changes had to be made.
"We have to break his swing down and start it all over again," Gaston said. "Murph and Vernon will have to see if they can come up with something that will work for him. I know Vernon is a good hitter. I know Vernon knows how to read different pitchers and we want to get him back to where he was before."
"This is one of the first times I feel like it's my team," he said. "Over the years, you lose a Carlos (Delgado), you lose a Roy (Halladay). That feeling that it's my team wasn't there before. Now when you look up and see the guys around you... I'm looking forward to the (leadership) role. Guys look at you to do the right things."
Which is what Wells needs to do at the plate now. Last season was a mess. He hit .260, managed only 15 home runs and had 66 RBI, far from acceptable for a clean-up hitter going into the fourth of a seven-year deal that pays him $126 million.
"I want to be there. I want to be back to what I'm accustomed to be doing, and that's helping this team win and driving in runs," said Wells, who last July slid lower in the order because his production was so poor. "You learn from that. It's better to learn from struggles. The way you react and the way you come back, defines who you are."

Defensively, his zone ratings were awful in 2009, the advanced metrics pointing that in coverage last season he was one of the poorest centre fielders in the game.
Which is why Wells will begin the season as the team's clean-up hitter, Gaston stated as he publicly continues to show confidence in his centre fielder. Wells primarily focused on his hitting while training throughout the winter and will hit behind Jose Bautista, Aaron Hill and Adam Lind. Lyle Overbay, until he is likely traded before July 31, is penciled in the No. 5 hole.
Wells is a cards-close-to-the-vest guy, an athlete who rarely wears his emotion on his sleeve. There is a sentiment, especially when he is in a drought and shows little, if any, frustration during slumps, that he is apathetic. What cannot be argued is this: not once last season, nor during his first media session of 2010 did he use his injuries as an excuse for his failures of a year ago. And it was a man relieved that popping Anti-inflammatory pills will not be a staple in his diet, which kept him able to play for 158 games.
Which is why Wells will begin the season as the team's clean-up hitter, Gaston stated as he publicly continues to show confidence in his centre fielder. Wells primarily focused on his hitting while training throughout the winter and will hit behind Jose Bautista, Aaron Hill and Adam Lind. Lyle Overbay, until he is likely traded before July 31, is penciled in the No. 5 hole.
At any rate, there is no room for Wells to repeat what has transpired the last two seasons. The team is now nowhere good enough to consistently be a legit big league ball club at the best of times, let alone when the most expensive commodity is a dud.
Wells has changed in many areas, for what appears to be the better, at a time the entire organization is in the midst of an overhaul of its own.
"Just because you have youth doesn't mean you can't win," he suggested.
But what could help? For Vernon Wells, after a two-year drought, to perform. Things have changed and it is his team; he wants to be the leader. No better way to mentor than to deliver.
Quite simply: the 2009 campaign could not have gone worse for Wells. "But here's the thing," reasoned Aaron Hill, coming off an all-star season. "He's more than healthy this year and Vernon is done with last year mentally. Now, it's just go out and play. Just go be Vernon. Just go do your thing. Because his thing is so much better than a lot of people when he's on and I can't wait to NBA Jerseys see him on again."